EDSA II

EDSA II
Name	Second People Power Revolution
Caption	Crowds at the Ortigas intersection during the February 2001 protests
Date	January–February 2001
Place	Metro Manila, Philippine Senate, Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo
Causes	Ouster of Joseph Estrada following jueteng scandal, impeachment trial, alleged corruption allegations
Result	Resignation and arrest of Joseph Estrada; swearing-in of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President of the Philippines
Methods	Mass demonstrations, barricades, civil disobedience, political defections

EDSA II

EDSA II was a four-day series of mass demonstrations and political maneuvers in late January to early February 2001 that culminated in the removal of Joseph Estrada from the Philippines presidency and the accession of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The events combined mass mobilization at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue corridor with institutional actions in the House of Representatives, Senate of the Philippines, and the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The episode followed a high-profile impeachment trial and exposed fissures among elites including leaders from the Liberal Party (Philippines), Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, and the People Power Coalition.

Background

The origins lay in allegations surrounding the alleged diversion of funds linked to jueteng and accusations of payoffs involving close associates of Joseph Estrada, including figures tied to the Manila International Airport Authority and provincial networks in Laguna and Cavite. A formal impeachment complaint initiated in the House of Representatives of the Philippines led to a televised trial in the Senate of the Philippines, presided over by then-Senate President Aquino (see) allies and legal authorities such as justices of the Supreme Court. The impeachment process intersected with maneuvers by the Administration Party and opposition parties including the Liberal Party (Philippines), prompting defections by officials from the Philippine National Police and elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Timeline

Late January 2001 saw intensified protests around landmark sites: Ortigas Center, Mendiola, and the EDSA Shrine. On January 16 the House of Representatives voted to impeach, and televised testimony heightened public scrutiny. On January 20–22 large crowds gathered near Camp Aguinaldo and the Malacañang Palace, while notable defections occurred among cabinet members and provincial governors from Ilocos Norte to Davao. Key judicial interventions in the Supreme Court of the Philippines were registered in late January. Between January 25 and February 1, political leaders including Ramos (see), Macapagal (see), and other luminaries either called for resignation or abstained from defending the embattled president, culminating in the declaration of vacancy by the House of Representatives and the oath-taking of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Rizal Park on January 20 (sworn in officially on January 20–January 24 sequence depending on institutional acts), after Joseph Estrada left Malacañang Palace and was later detained at Philippine Constabulary-era facilities.

Key Figures

Prominent political actors included Joseph Estrada, whose tenure traced back to the 1998 Philippine presidential election; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a former Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and later de facto head of state; Jose de Venecia, Teofisto Guingona Jr., and opposition stalwarts from the Liberal Party (Philippines) and Lakas–CMD. Military and police personalities such as General Angelo Reyes and General Hermogenes Ebdane featured in loyalty shifts. Civil society and religious leaders, notably from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and activists associated with Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines networks, also played visible roles. Media executives and broadcasters from outlets like ABS-CBN and GMA Network influenced public perception.

Political Developments

Institutional responses included motions in the House of Representatives of the Philippines to declare the presidency vacant, Senate deliberations over the impeachment trial, and rapid cabinet resignations that created a cascade effect across national agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense. Legal challenges reached the Supreme Court of the Philippines, which issued rulings affecting succession and the legality of certain acts. Party realignments saw members of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and the People Power Coalition shift allegiance to the new administration. Legislative priorities after the transition emphasized stabilization measures and inquiries into alleged corruption practices tied to the outgoing administration.

Public Response and Protests

Mass mobilizations drew diverse participants from Metro Manila neighborhoods, student groups from University of the Philippines, labor contingents from unions affiliated with Kilusan ng mga Manggagawa, and religious organizations clustered at the EDSA Shrine and Quirino Grandstand. Demonstrations combined peaceful prayer vigils led by bishops from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines with street barricades in Ortigas and the vicinity of Camp Aguinaldo. Counter-demonstrations by loyalists of Joseph Estrada occurred near Malacañang Palace and provincial capitols in Cebu and Davao City, occasionally prompting clashes with police units and crowd-control detachments.

International Reaction

Foreign governments and multilateral institutions such as the United States Department of State, European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations monitored developments closely, issuing statements urging restraint. Key diplomatic missions including the Embassy of the United States, Manila and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines engaged with parties to encourage peaceful resolution. International media outlets including BBC News, CNN International, and Al Jazeera provided sustained coverage, while economic stakeholders like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund assessed potential market impacts. Some foreign leaders publicly congratulated Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after the transfer of power; others emphasized adherence to constitutional processes.

Aftermath and Impact

The transition reshaped party alignments, accelerated inquiries into alleged malfeasance associated with the outgoing administration, and influenced subsequent presidential contests including the 2004 Philippine presidential election. Legal proceedings led to the arrest and trial of Joseph Estrada on charges later subject to pardons and appeals. The events reinforced the symbolic role of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in popular politics and affected civil-military relations within the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Longer-term impacts included debates over constitutional succession, revisions to impeachment procedures in the Congress of the Philippines, and enduring discourse in academic centers such as Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines on the nature of people power and elite bargaining in Southeast Asian democracies.

Category:2001 in the Philippines Category:Philippine revolutions